USD's losing skid continues

Santa Clara 69, USD 63

USD tried introducing star baseball alum Kris Bryant in the first half. In the second half, the Toreros trotted out members of the 1983-84 team that made the program’s first appearance in the NCAA Division I playoffs.

But no marketing ploy could help a team whose season appears to be slipping away. Santa Clara, which came in riding a seven-game losing streak, defeated USD 69-63 Saturday night before 1,752 at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.

The Toreros dropped to 13-13, 4-9 in the West Coast Conference, tied for eighth place in the 10-team WCC. Santa Clara improved to 11-15, 4-9.

USD opened the season 7-1, equaling the program’s best start since moving to Division I in 1979. Since then, the Toreros are 6-12.

Last night, USD was doomed by poor shooting, particularly at the free throw line. The Toreros stepped to the line 30 times, but only made 19, 63.3 percent. Center Jito Kok was 0-for-6.

USD came into the game shooting 69 percent on free throws. Santa Clara hit 13 of 17 from the line.

USD struggled from the field as well, making just 20 of 53 shots, 37.7 percent. The Toreros’ shooting was at its worst in the second half – 8 of 28, 28.6 percent.

Many of the misses were either layups, tip-ins or close to the basket.

“We had about eight (missed) lay-ins,” said head coach Bill Grier. “We can’t get closer to the basket. You just got to make them as a player.”

Two Christopher Anderson free throws pulled USD to within 61-58 with 2:36 to play. But the Toreros would miss their next three shots, all 3-pointers.

USD’s last bucket came with 17 seconds to play, a Duda Sanadze follow, closing Santa Clara’s lead to 67-63. But the Broncos would hit two more free throws to clinch the victory.

Sanadze led the Toreros with 23 points, two below his season high. Johnny Dee scored 18 and Anderson added 11.

Forward Dennis Kramer, who had scored in double figures in nine of his last 10 games, didn’t score until 4 minutes, 7 seconds remained in the game. He finished with a season-low two points.

The Toreros were outrebounded 39-34.

“I think what happens to this group is that its heart is in the right place, but when the other team starts making a run, they try to make plays on their own to help the team, and it’s the worst thing they could do,” said Grier.

“Outside of yanking them every time they do it … that’s not going to help their confidence. There’s got to be some learning on their part.”

USD was done in by the Broncos’ backcourt duo of junior Brandon Clark and freshman Jared Brownridge. Clark scored 23 points and Brownridge, the WCC’s leading freshman scorer, added 17.

While USD was 3-6 at the midway point of the WCC schedule, the team looked forward to playing seven of its last nine games at the JCP. The Toreros haven’t capitalized on their home floor, closing a four-game homestand 1-3.